State Attorney's Office Announces Domestic Violence Initiative

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larizza Daytona Beach, FL - Update: State Attorney R.J. Larizza held a press conference on Wednesday where a Domestic Violence Initiative was announced. "We're coming together today to work together to try and turn back the tide of this disturbing trend of domestic violence," said Larizza in his opening remarks at the conference. Larizza said the attorney who was handling misdemeanor domestic violence cases, Gina Baker, will now be handling the felony domestic cases which "are smaller in number, more severe in the acts of violence." 2 new prosecutor positions have been added which will focus solely on misdemeanor domestic violence cases in eastern Volusia County. The funding is being taken out of the State Attorney Office's operating budget. Those 2 prosecutors will be Shey McCurdy and Andrew Draper. Larizza also said that a $480,000 grant had been received to fund domestic violence victim advocacy. DBPD Chief Mike Chitwood agreed that our community needs to focus on cases of domestic violence. He said that in his 10 and a half years as Chief, he's started seeing sons arrested in domestic violence cases for the same crimes their fathers were arrested for. Sheriff Ben Johnson spoke at the event and said, "I really appreciate the State Attorney stepping forward to do this." The Domestic Abuse Council's 24 hour crisis hotline is 386-255-2102 and the FL Department of Children and Families FL Abuse Hotline is 1-800-96-ABUSE. johnson

(Sheriff Ben Johnson)

chitwood

(DBPD Chief Mike Chitwood)

Earlier Reporting: R.J. Larizza, State Attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit, will hold a press conference on Wednesday to announce a Domestic Violence Initiative. The press conference will begin at 1:30 PM and will be held on the 1st floor of the S. James Foxman Justice Center at 251 N Ridgewood Ave, Daytona Beach. The State Attorney will be joined by Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson, Daytona Beach Police Deputy Chief Craig Capri, Tiffany Carr (CEO of the FL Coalition Against Domestic Violence), Senator Travis Hutson, Representative Paul Renner, representatives of the Domestic Abuse Council, the Flagler Family Life Center, and other members of the Volusia Legislative Delegation. At the event, a task force will be revealed made up of local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, state attorney investigators, victim advocates, and community members who will work together to tackle the effects of domestic violence in our communities and to provide services for those who are impacted by it. "The misdemeanor and felony episodes of domestic violence... the volume is quite disturbing and the consequences on our communities are far reaching," said Larizza. "It can go anywhere from just a simple battery to a multiple homicide. So we think it's very important that we address domestic violence with as many resources as we can bring to bear." Photo courtesy wellphoto and Shutterstock.com. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2016.